Category Archives: Midwest Airlines

Curt Drumm of Manitowoc, WI is leading an effort to bring back Midwest Express Airlines. A website has been established and a small group is looking for investors. If it happens, the second version of Midwest Express would also be based in Milwaukee.

The website has made this statement:

The Return of a Legend:

Plans are underway to bring back the iconic Midwest Express Airlines. Remember the great service, comfortable seating and chocolate cookies? So much of that went away, and hasn’t come back.

With fewer flights out of Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport (MKE), and even fewer non-stop destinations, travel has become more of a hassle. Add long connections, service fees and crowded planes, it’s just not fun anymore. Many other mid-size airports face the same problem, too.

That’s why we’re working hard to bring back Midwest Express. With convenient destinations for business travelers, roomy seats, WiFi and friendly people who care about you, it’s going to help you plan your travel more efficiently. Flights to many of our destinations will allow you to travel out and back on the same day, getting you back home at night, instead of being away.

We are currently finalizing our plans. If you’d like to be part of it, either as an investor or a member of our team, let us know. There’s a contact form below. Or just follow our progress right here. We’ll keep you posted.

Thanks for your interest in the new Midwest Express. More details will be coming soon. We can’t wait to get in the air!

Note: The original Midwest Express Airlines (above) commenced scheduled passenger flights on June 11, 1984. In March 2003 it became Midwest Airlines (below). On June 23, 2009, Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. announced they would acquire Midwest Airlines for $31 million. The purchase was finalized on July 30, 2009. On November 2, 2009 the last flight was operated and the brand was retired.

Midwest Airlines’ (Milwaukee) former (now furloughed) pilots, represented by ALPA, filed a lawsuit in Milwaukee on April 14 asking a federal judge to resolve disputes over their job losses and discontinuation of retiree health insurance coverage.

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) yesterday (May 14) launched new nonstop service between the carrier’s Denver hub and Fairbanks (FAI); Grand Rapids (GRR) and Long Beach (LGB). The carrier also launched new nonstop service between its Milwaukee hub and Seattle/Tacoma (SEA). The service is part of a 17-market expansion taking place this spring and summer, making Frontier the fastest-growing major carrier in the United States. Services will be operated by Frontier’s Airbus A318s and A319s and Republic Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 190s.

In the coming weeks, Frontier Airlines will launch service between Denver and both New Orleans and Santa Barbara, Calif. The carrier will also launch service from Kansas City, Mo. to New Orleans.

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. (Indianapolis), has announced it will add the Gogo® inflight internet service on its Embraer fleet. Frontier plans to have the service installed on its fleet of 32 ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 aircraft by the end of 2010.

Gogo internet access will be available for purchase starting at $4.95, based on length of flight and type of device used to access Gogo. Once connected, customers can use Gogo to check e-mail, log into a corporate VPN, watch their favorite Frontier commercials and more.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman. Republic Airlines’ (2nd) (Indianapolis) Embraer ERJ 170-100SU N818MD (msn 17000039) pushes back from the gate at the Denver hub when it was operated under contract with Frontier. The Republic Embraer fleet, now painted in the Midwest Airlines brand, is now expected to be repainted back in the Frontier livery due to the recent announcement the Midwest brand would be retired.

Republic Airways Holdings (Indianapolis) has done the right thing with the selection of the Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) name for its consolidated branded network. According to the holding group, “The retention of the Frontier Airlines name includes its iconic animal trademarks that have garnered more than 80 awards for groundbreaking communications and advertising and will now be leveraged across an even larger customer base.”

According to Republic, “The decision was announced after analyzing extensive data from customers and employees that underscored the importance of maintaining the best practices of both brands and will also help determine additional enhancements as the two networks transition to one consistent brand.”

This decision will retire the Midwest Airlines (Milwaukee) brand. Midwest is no longer an airline anyway. Midwest surrendered its AOC when the last Boeing 717 was phased out. Republic expects the integration process will take 12-18 months to repaint the aircraft still in Midwest colors. In addition to brand consolidation, the process will focus on developing and implementing attributes that will set Frontier Airlines apart in the industry. A dedicated Web site where details about the integration process will be posted has been established at www.FrontierMidwest.com.

The Frontier employees who rallied to save their unique brand can now rest! Well done Republic.

Republic Airways Holdings (Indianapolis), the owner of Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) and the Midwest Airlines (Milwaukee) will announce on April 13 the fate of these airline names. Republic is expected to announce it will decide on one name for both entities. Republic has announced the results of its polling and both the Denver and Milwaukee markets cherish their individual brands.

Our guess, since “Midwest Airlines” is no longer an airline (the AOC was surrendered when the 717s were retired) and the brand has been weakened with smaller aircraft, Republic will decide the Frontier name is best for both markets. However Frontier will now start to serve cookies!

Midwest Airlines is no longer an airline, only a brand in which Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Frontier Airlines (2nd) operate the flights. Parent Republic Airways Holdings is expected to soon make a decision on which brands it wants to operate under.